09 KLR650 opinions?

[Morcs]

Twas looking at one the other day. Having a bit of trouble finding a demo to take for a spin...

So

All those that have ridden or owned/own a KLR, please tell me what you think. The good, the bad, performance etc..

Thanking you :) :beer:

[Taz]

DR riders will say you're gay to ride a KLR. But you'll be their best friend when their piddly little tank runs low :). The KLR looks to be a very capable adv steed but is a little on the heavy side if you plan to go further off road than it's design brief.

[MXNUT]

Oh the PAIN ..... its going to start all over again :argh::angry2::angry2:

[kevfromcoro]

Well .. i have just been looking at the KLR and the Dr.
both bikes are similar in HP. the KLR being water cooled.and the suzuki is air cooled...i ended up with a DR, just becose i got a good deal on one.
but really for the money around $10000 new . the KLR is a good deal.
depends what you whant to do with it.they come with a good rear rack.. the bulky tank put me off a bit. dont think you can go wrong with either bike...
in talking to a few blokes on different sites.. they seem to go forever
good luck.....

[Taz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3khTntOxX-k

[NordieBoy]

Yep they'll both do the same stuff with the DR being slightly better in the dirt and the KLR slightly better on the road.

Ride both and make sure you also ride a pre '08 KLR as well.

[Oscar]

I was speaking to a KLR owner last week, who had just traded his '08 on an '09.
He said the '08 had oil burning issues that couldn't be solved to his satisfaction.
He also made some rude comments about build quality, fit and finish.

Having said all that, he still bought another - go figure.

[marks]

Having said all that, he still bought another - go figure.

obviously a man with good sense and taste :whistle:

[Big Dave]

http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.com/2009/08/ridden-kawasaki-klr650.html

[Morcs]

Cheers guys.

Yeah Id go for the KLR over the DR for a few reasons:

It would be more road than off road
Im so over naked bikes for touring
The KLR doesnt look like it was designed in prehistoric times
The motor is water cooled rather than the dr's liquid cooled dinosaur
And the KLRs tank range is meant to be uber uber uber.

[Devil]

Another convert huh!

[Morcs]

Another convert huh!

Ive been a convert for ages!

Just that the DRZ400SM didnt really do the long distance stuff well at all. Seat like a plank, zero wind protection, 17'' front wheel, and a 150km range (if lucky!)...

[scracha]

If it's mostly on road/gravel then wot about a baby v-strom ?

[Morcs]

If it's mostly on road/gravel then wot about a baby v-strom ?

V strom is too much road really - and its too slow as a road bike. not to mention its a spewzuki. i like the simplicity of the true dual sports.

[NordieBoy]

The motor is water cooled rather than the dr's liquid cooled dinosaur

:D

The DR has more hp's and torks.

[hospitalfood]

have not rode a modern klr 650, my one was 86 or 87 ? a good friend has an 08 dr 650 i have ridden.

anywho, dr is a lot more sporty IMO. there have always been little issues with the klr 650's right from the first models, but you get that with most bikes and the info is available online about them all.
i think big dave is a fan of the newer klr's and i guess he must know a thing or two.
i guess the downside with the dr for touring is small tank, small seat and very small fairing, but i did prefer riding the dr to my klr ( not just because my klr was old ).

[Oscar]

:D

The DR has more hp's and torks.

...and is better off road. As a neutral observer, I don't understand the fascination with green...

[Devil]

V strom is too much road really - and its too slow as a road bike.

Pardon? Much a spanking can be delivered by the weestrom. They're a proper quick wee bike... just throw out the screen...

[hospitalfood]

how does the bmw 650 compare with the dr and klr

[Taz]

how does the bmw 650 compare with the dr and klr

Which one?

[Sidewinder]

there real good at buring oil!
dr650 way better

[hospitalfood]

Which one?

don't know ? you know, one of those on/off numbers..........f650 ?

[Taz]

don't know ? you know, one of those on/off numbers..........f650 ?


Back a while there was the F650 Funduro. Then came the F650GS and F650GS PD singles, and now the F650 Parallel twin and a new 650single called the G650GS. Not to mention the Xchallenge, Xcountry and Xsomethingelse. :)

[Big Dave]

...and is better off road. As a neutral observer, I don't understand the fascination with green...

I prefer the KLR. It's a 'nicer' bike. Less vibe, less harshness.

[Sidewinder]

just get a CRF450

[Morcs]

If suzuki updated the DR650 like they did with the 400, id buy one in a flash.

My requirements would be:

Decent range tank & economical
Cheap (10k or under)
Have a fairing, a good seat and luggage capacity
Have big bouncy suspension with a large front wheel.

KLR is the only bike that fits the bill...

Just trying to get my hands on a demo to testride...

[Odakyu-sen]

Has anyone given their KLR or DR the Goldvalve treatment in the front end or had the rear shock changed? (Or both?)

I figure the manufacturers will cut corners with suspension 'cause its harder to measure its performance objectively. Does the DR or the KLR benefit more from a basic suspension upgrade? Does one bike need a whole lot more spent on it than the other? (I am not talking about hard-on off-road suspension; more of suspension mods for optimum performance on sealed/unsealed roads.)

[Big Dave]

Just trying to get my hands on a demo to testride...

Mr Motorcycles have the long term KR test bike back for a customer to test ride currently.

[Devil]

Back a while there was the F650 Funduro. Then came the F650GS and F650GS PD singles, and now the F650 Parallel twin and a new 650single called the G650GS. Not to mention the Xchallenge, Xcountry and Xsomethingelse. :)

The "new" G650GS is the old F650GS. Back by popular demand.
Dont forget the F650CS as well...

[Sidewinder]

The "new" G650GS is the old F650GS. Back by popular demand.
Dont forget the F650CS as well...

i think price is a thing tho

[Devil]

i think price is a thing tho

May well be. it's certainly good value now. Quite a popular bike.

Have ridden around on the GS Dakar and it's quite good. Zippy enough, uses next to no gas, decent seat, looks ok. Can fit a heap of luggage on it.

[Taz]

The "new" G650GS is the old F650GS. Back by popular demand.
Dont forget the F650CS as well...
Almost. It runs the slightly better G650 Xchallenge motor.

[Big Dave]

BMW X-country is my fave of all of them - except for the price tag.

The motard however I didn't like much at all. You couldn't turn off the ABS - on a motard?

[Taz]

BMW X-country is my fave of all of them - except for the price tag.


Seat is a bit high - but i suppose you didn't notice that?

[Rosie]

Seat is a bit high - but i suppose you didn't notice that?

:rolleyes: The X-country is the round-headlighted naked bike looking one, not the crazy tall off-road X-challenge. Even I can touch the ground on the X-country.

[Oscar]

:rolleyes: The X-country is the round-headlighted naked bike looking one, not the crazy tall off-road X-challenge. Even I can touch the ground on the X-country.

19" Front Wheel.

I liked it, but it isn't really an adventure bike.

[Devil]

:rolleyes: The X-country is the round-headlighted naked bike looking one, not the crazy tall off-road X-challenge. Even I can touch the ground on the X-country.

Yeah, cant stand the look of the Xcountry, but the x challenge looks wicked. Albeit a little uncomfortable!

[Big Dave]

19" Front Wheel.

I liked it, but it isn't really an adventure bike.

Would be my first choice for the capital coast. TKC'd.

The 19" means it's a bit slower and harder work in the challenge loops, but it's compensated for on the 50% sportsbike roads. Rest of it is like riding a 650 mountain bike.

[Big Dave]

Yeah, cant stand the look of the Xcountry,

Naturally I liked it.

[NordieBoy]

Has anyone given their KLR or DR the Goldvalve treatment in the front end or had the rear shock changed? (Or both?)

I figure the manufacturers will cut corners with suspension 'cause its harder to measure its performance objectively. Does the DR or the KLR benefit more from a basic suspension upgrade? Does one bike need a whole lot more spent on it than the other? (I am not talking about hard-on off-road suspension; more of suspension mods for optimum performance on sealed/unsealed roads.)

Both need simple suspension work.
Emulators/Intiminators in the front and a re-spring and re-valve in back.

[Big Dave]

Both need simple suspension work.
Emulators/Intiminators in the front and a re-spring and re-valve in back.

Depends if were talking brand new or not too?
I'd need more spring on the rear, but even the cheapie suspenders are reasonably good - till they emulsify.
Cheaper they are the less it takes till they paste up and go off and need upgrading. Nothing I'd be in a screamin' hurry to replace on the KLR. Fullness of time though.

[Padmei]

Hi Morcs. I have an 08 KLR & have taken it 14K on & off road for the past year.

I was in the same boat as you when I bought mine & after much toing & froing if I was faced with the decision again I would buy the same bike.

I don't do naked bikes very well - the wind just bugs me, I'm approx 6ft & the wind hits me right in the eyes with the std screen so I have the ugly handmade screen attached to front of mine (& recently have a offroad setup I can change for the forest). There are 'nice' screens you can add on

The shocks are ok but Ricor are doing great things with them for a reasonable price compared to other flasher brands.
Comfort is great & they have enough power for me. Get rid of the tyres & put on some better ones. If you intend doing anythng off road some engine bars are a must - Most people have dropped them & without the bars they are up for hundreds for the plastic fairings. I find mine very top heavy & manoeuvreing them in awkward situations can lead to photo opportunities.

The only bad thing I would say about the bike personally is the gear ratios are too far between 1st & 2nd. Often I'm either ringing it out in 1st up a hill or chugging & slipping the clutch in 2nd. I usually ride with a 14 tooth as the standard 15 is too tall.
All in all a good bike.

[pete376403]

I also have an '08 KLR. 17000km, including near 1000 put on over the past weekend. I really like it, despite an oil use issue. It may be resolved under warranty, if not I'll put a Schnitz racing 685 piston , which apparently fixes the oil burning permanently, adds a wee bit of HP and quite a bit more torque (Ask MarkS, his 09 has a 685). Very easy to ride off road, the torque curve is virtually dead flat from less than 3000 rpm to redline, so it doesn't really matter what revs the engine is doing, it will just chug through anything. Road handling, even on stock Dunlop D705(?) is impressive, brakes are vastly improved over previous models, as are the lights. Seat is comfortable, was getting a bit sore at the end of 400km days. Wind protection is good. Standard luggage rack is big. Fuel range on a full tank is about 280 - 300 depending on how you're riding.
Its not a hard core trail bike, so not in the same league as KTMS - neither is the price. However it is surprisingly capable off road. Last weekend I was in company of two DR650s, a KTM950 and an XR650R - it went everywhere they did and it got further through the snow than everything except a D606 shod DR650.(KLR has a Metz Sahara on the back).
There is a vast aftermarket range of accessories available in the US.
You could do a whole lot worse for a lot more money

[Morcs]

Cheers guys :)

[Moki]

i like the simplicity of the true dual sports.


Hmmmmm....thumper.